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suspension definition

sus·pen·sion (sə spens̸hən)

noun

  1. a suspending or being suspended; specif.,
    1. a temporary barring from an office, school, etc.
    2. a temporary stoppage of payment, service, etc.
    3. a temporary canceling, as of rules
    4. a deferring of action on a sentence
    5. a holding back of a judgment, etc.
  2. a supporting device or framework upon or from which something is suspended
  3. the system of springs, shocks, etc. supporting a vehicle upon its undercarriage or axles
  4. the act or means of suspending the balance or pendulum in a timepiece
  5. Chem.
    1. the condition of a substance whose particles are dispersed through a fluid but not dissolved in it, esp. the condition of one having relatively large particles that will separate out on standing
    2. a substance in this condition
  6. Music
    1. the continuing of one or more tones of one chord into a following chord while the other tones are changed, so that a temporary dissonance is created
    2. the tone or tones so continued

Etymology: ML suspensio < LL, an arching < L suspensus: see suspense

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
suspension Synonyms

suspension

n.

  1. A delay

    postponement, deferment, stay; see delay 1, pause 1, 2, respite.

  2. An end

    halt, discontinuing, stoppage; see end 2, stopping.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

suspension Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • disbelief: He said: There's a willing suspension of disbelief.

Converse of object

  • lower: A host of modifications including stiffened, lowered suspension, tweaked power steering and up-rated brakes will ensure the car cuts the mustard dynamically.

Adjective modifier

  • rear: A further modification was made to the rear suspension, lowering the chassis to compensate for its normal very high build.

Modifies a noun

  • bridge: At West Boat there is an elegant suspension bridge, which was erected in 1826, at a cost of £ 5,000.

Noun used with modifier

  • one-match: The former Southampton defender should force his way back into Kenny Jackett's side following his one-match suspension last week.
suspension usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

suspension quotes

That willing suspension of disbelief for the moment, which constitutes poetic faith.

-Coleridge, Samuel Taylor

suspension quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"suspension." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/suspension>

APA Style

suspension. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/suspension

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